THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
When you see someone work harder than usual, the last thing you should do is judge them because you have no idea what they’re going through.
PLOT
Being the Ricardos chronicles the relationship of American actress Lucille Ball and Cuban actor Desi Arnaz. They met on set of Too Many Girls in 1939 and fell for each other instantly. Once production wrapped for that film, they would marry and buy a house in Hollywood. Arnaz maintained success when fronting the Desi Arnaz Orchestra that toured around the country. After serving in WWII, he would resume working with his orchestra, but Lucille would accompany him as she was aware of his infidelity. She would get a big break in 1942's The Big Street, but despite having a praised performance for its modest success, her contract with RKO would be terminated as she won't have roles for herself due to loaned actresses returning. She would then work in the 1948 radio show My Favorite Husband, which became a massive. success. Its said attention caught the eyes of CBS and Philip Morris, who want it to become a television show. Lucille only agrees to do it if Desi plays her on screen husband. The executives hesitantly agree as he would become the first Hispanic lead in an American sitcom. By the 50s, their show I Love Lucy would be the most popular show at the time, as it had 60 million viewers each week. In '53, many things occur in what felt like a long week for the couple: Lucille is pregnant with her second child and both she and Desi want her character Lucy to be pregnant on the show, so she doesn't have to hide it. The executives are against it as they've never acknowledged pregnancy on screen before, nor was the word allowed to be said on air. At home, Lucille believes that her husband is still cheating on him, but he claims that he hangs out with other celebrities, playing cards on a boat and sleeps there when feeling too tired to come home. She believes him at that time, because after she first confronts him, she is deemed a communist by the media despite being cleared by HUAC. She does however admit that when she was younger, she was influenced to register as a member of the Communist Party, but Desi insists to lie to the public. She is against it because she worries of being humiliated. Wanting to save her marriage, she asks showrunner/creator of I Love Lucy, Jess Oppenheimer, to remind her husband that he has top billing. When he does, it only made him feel patronized. She also clashes with crew during table reads and scene blocking. There is even conflict between co stars Vivian Vance and William Frawley who do not get along due to the latter's drinking habit. While Vance struggled with her physical appearance, Frawley explains to Lucille that maybe his actions of infidelity originate of how he feels emasculated. On the day of shooting a new episode, Desi is able to put the controversy at rest: He addresses the accusations to the audiences and has a live call with FBI director J Edgar Hoover to assure that Lucille is clear of all charges. Despite wanting to celebrate, his wife confronts him with proof of his infidelity as she found a handkerchief that doesn't match her lipstick. Once he finally admits her suspicion, she chooses to move on and start shooting. When it starts, Lucille briefly loses concentration, but she starts over and continues more focused. The film ends with an epilogue revealing that she and Desi divorced in 1960 after I Love Lucy had concluded.
THOUGHTS
For someone who enjoyed the classic 50s sitcom, it blows my mind how I was unaware of how much happened off screen. With that in mind, Writer/Director Aaron Sorkin shows us an interesting and informative perspective of how the glamour as a star doesn't always stick off screen, which made it feel honorable to the material he was working with. The true theme of this movie however is about partnership. When you have a stressful line of work, you need a partner that's gonna be there until the end, one who'll always be on the same page and forever truthful. If you don't have that kind of partner, then it won't last as long as you'd hope. You obviously wouldn't feel this without a unique ensemble that become these iconic figures with the fantastic combination of makeup & costume design. In her fifth Oscar nomination, Nicole Kidman straight up blends in as the sensational Lucille Ball. She shows sides of her we never thought twice of because we were so used to her quirky character Lucy for so long, which made her presence feel fresh. Here, she expresses Ball as a chess master of the genre she was working with, who saw how the scenes would play out and be memorable as she hopes or expects. Seeing her take command of the show before the cameras were rolling showed how much of a barrier breaker she was at her time. She was also someone who yearned for happiness in a domesticated life and the closest she got was on set with Desi because his schedule always prevented that possibility. We want to be happy of her exoneration, seeing her call out her husband for the infidelity for the last time is heartbreaking because it felt bound. She tried so hard to keep things together until the proof she found confirmed how this love wasn't gonna last. In his third Oscar nomination, Javier Bardem was unexpectedly great as Desi Arnaz. He succeeds in being so because he accurately portrays him as someone who didn't know how to love unconditionally. The two fell for each other because they admired their determination to succeed. The difference is that he couldn't control the rollercoaster he made, which only made him more volatile. He did his best to be there for his wife, but it doesn't change his unfaithfulness. When he is finally caught, you sense his regret because he never meant to hurt her after all they went through, which is why it makes the ending even sadder. While both leads have impeccable chemistry to keep the movie investing, the supporting cast are able to spice things up as well. JK Simmons surprised me as William Frawley because he accurately portrayed the actor as a gruff man with a heart, which earns him his own Oscar nomination. He may not come off like a people person, but that's because he's picky with those he chooses to befriend with. He chooses to talk to Desi and Lucille because he senses the tensity that they're going through, wishes for them to overcome their obstacles. Feeling that, it makes it saddening that he never had a good relationship with co star Vivian Vance. Speaking of which, Nina Arianda did a great job portraying her as someone who wanted the same respect as Lucille, but never exactly got that because she was always told to look different. She was very secure of herself and preferred solitude because she felt that no one would understand her own set of pressure of wanting to be a separately respected star. In my opinion, she always was to me. Plus, I thought it was hilarious whenever see and Frawley bickered on and off screen. Lastly, I really enjoyed Tony Hale as Jess Oppenheimer. He was an impulsive guy who had to put up the commands of the duo leads, which would only ruin his original vision of I Love Lucy. He chose to stand by anyway, despite feeling powerless, because he knew it would be worth it for the show's sake. In short, Being the Ricardos is an intriguing movie that will unexpectedly make bonds stronger, showing viewers that the key to a good relationship is a cooperation and honesty. Whether or not you love I Love Lucy, I recommend this film to those who appreciate the relationships they have.
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